Master of Philosophy

Ph. D. in Art History

Internal Master’s degree or MA/PhD candidates who are interested in continuing into the PhD program will arrange for an interview with the Graduate Studies Committee to discuss admission to the doctoral program. MA candidates with a specialization in Asian Art History may be considered for admission to the PhD program in Art History. The interview will be held during the semester in which the candidate completes all MA requirements, i.e., after the candidate has passed the master’s examination and has submitted an approved scholarly paper. The candidate will submit application materials that must include: a statement of purpose, four copies of the scholarly paper or approved substitute, and a current curriculum vitae. In addition, the candidate must have two confidential letters of recommendation sent to the Director of Graduate Studies; one of these letters must be from the candidate’s proposed departmental doctoral advisor. This interview process applies to students enrolled in the MA/PhD program as well as those students initially admitted as MA candidates. Unless such an interview is scheduled by the last semester of the MA program all MA or MA/PhD students in the department will graduate with an MA only. Admission to the PhD program is dependent upon the student’s overall preparation and qualifications, including his or her coursework, comprehensive exam, scholarly paper, ability to do independent research, support from a departmental doctoral advisor, as well as the appropriateness of his or her academic goals. Following the interview, the Graduate Studies Committee will recommend to the full faculty whether or not the candidate should be accepted to the doctoral program. A student denied admission to the doctoral program may appeal that decision to the Chair. The decision of the full faculty is final.

Applicants holding the MA degree from outside Boston University and deemed by the Graduate Studies Committee to be without strong art history backgrounds may be admitted to the PhD program with special student status and be expected to complete two graduate courses on a probational basis. In order to remain in the program, the student must earn a grade of at least B+ in each course. The Graduate Studies Committee will then review the student’s progress and notify the student of their decision. Applicants from outside Boston University without evidence of reading competence in a modern foreign language must pass a language examination by the end of their first semester of residence at Boston University. All PhD candidates must choose a faculty advisor during their first semester of candidacy and inform the Director of Graduate Studies of their choice in writing.

Eight one-semester courses are required for the PhD; the average course load is two courses per semester. It is recommended that two of these eight courses be in disciplines other than art history. Two of the art history courses must be graduate seminars.

For further information please contact:

Alice Tseng
Director of Graduate Studies

725 Commonwealth Ave, 210C
Boston, Massachusetts 02215
Telephone: (617) 353-1458
Fax: (617) 353-3243
E-mail: aytseng@bu.edu